Bergisch Gladbach: The Schlade – a fossil coral reef on the edge of the Bergisches Land hills

Around 370 million years ago, an incredibly diverse coral reef developed on the edge of the Bergisches Land hills under a subtropical climate, the remnants of which we can admire today. This coral reef is part of the Paffrath Limestone Basin, a former shallow sea. We will explore its formation and evolution. We will hike across a former coral reef, now the Irlenfeld Ridge, into the Schlade limestone quarry. This was a Devonian marine surf zone. Coral-forming polyps and many other shell-forming animals lived here. These creatures were experimenting with their diverse forms in and around the water. Dead animals with exoskeletons could leave imprints in the sediment. They were fossilized under oxygen-free conditions beneath a thick layer of sand and silt. Later tectonic activity pushed the deposited layers upwards, allowing the trapped fossils to be exposed. We will walk into a former marine surf zone, now a quarry, where you can view various fossils. The hike will reveal fascinating connections in Earth's history. In addition to diagrams, I will pass around collected fossils for you to look at. These impressions will be particularly tangible for children.

• Tour type: guided, themed hike and tour
• Target group: Adults, families with children aged 6 and over
• Streckenlänge: 5 km
• Duration: 3 hour
• Meeting point: Parking lot of the paper museum “Alte Dombach” opposite the machine hall in the Strunde valley between Bergisch Gladbach and Herrenstrunden 
• Price: Adults: 13 euros, children up to 12 years: 6,50 euros
  
• Tour guide: Achim Marré
• Registration required: yes, minimum 5, maximum 20 people (25 if necessary)
• Food: Bring your own packed lunch; a stop at a café is optional. After the hike, you can visit the café in the LVR Industrial Museum Alte Dombach.
• Equipment: sturdy footwear recommended

Contact and registration:
Achim Marré,
Tel. 02202/ 55716,
Email: a-marre@web.de